Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Friday reminded the youth in the southern city of Naga here that education is a key to equal opportunity to grow and serve the community.
Duterte, who led the ceremonial distribution of financial assistance for over 1,000 beneficiaries from around Cebu province and Cebu City, including public transport drivers, senior citizens, women, the differently-abled, and LGBTQ+, urged Cebuanos to prod the children to take education seriously.
“Uban sa akong paghangyo kaninyong tanan nga tabangi ninyo ang gobyerno nga ipasabot sa inyong mga anak, mga isguon, apo, ig-agaw, inyong akaparyentihan, ug sa tanan nga kabatan-onan nga kinahanglan sila nga magkugi sa ilang pag-eskwela kay mao kana ang makapabag-o sa ilang kinabuhi (With my request to all of you that you help the government to explain to your children, siblings, grandchildren, cousins, your relatives, and all the youth that they need to work hard in their schooling because that can change their lives),” Duterte said.
Duterte also urged the recipients of different aids from the government to rally behind the government and refrain from supporting criminals, terrorists, rebels, drug peddlers, smugglers, swindlers, and scammers.
“Let us unite behind our government, our Philippine National Police, our Armed Forces of the Philippines whom we can rely for our progress and development of our City of Naga,” she added in Cebuano.
Financial aid
Around 500 bus, public utility jeepneys, and tricycle drivers received PHP2,000 each in financial aid facilitated through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Over 170 jeepney, bus, and taxicab drivers who are members of the Cebu United Transport Cooperative and 300 public utility vehicle drivers from Danao City in north Cebu are listed to receive the cash aid.
Some 400 senior citizens and members of the women’s sector also got financial assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program, a package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers and other vulnerable workers from 10 days or more depending on the allocation.
The third batch of beneficiaries who are members of the Moalboal Public Market Vendors Association received a total of PHP100,000 through the “Mag-Negosyo Ta, ‘Day” program of the Office of the Vice President, which includes business literacy training.
The distribution took place at the Tuyan Central Elementary School in the City of Naga on Friday.
Duterte also led the distribution of food packs to 1,340 multi-sectoral beneficiaries composed of the differently abled, senior citizens, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women’s associations at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in East Poblacion Barangay Hall in Naga City. (PNA)
